Improvement in side springs for vehicles



' R. PORTER.

` `Side-MSWI)ring forlVehicles.v Noi 211,045. Patented DecQn, 1878.-

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ROBERT PORTER, OF HULTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,045, dated December 17, 1878; application led November l, 1878.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT PORTER, of Halton, in the county 'of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Side Springs for Vehicles; and I d'o hereby declare thefollowin g to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specilication, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view 5 Fig. 2, a vertical section on line fr x of Fig. l, Fig. 3, a modiii cation in shape of spring.

Side springs, as at present usually constructed, are opento objections. They must be used without a reach or perch, and if one spring be more heavily loaded than the other `it expands and throws the front wheels out of track by pushing on that" end of the axle.

This has a very bad effect, wearing ont the gear too rapidly, and making it hard to pull. There is great difculty, then, in always keeping the runnin g-gear square. The springs stand above the axle, rendering it necessary to place the body of the vehicle up high, makit awkward to get into and top-heavy in motion. This is partially remedied by mounting` thebody between the springs; but this again causes another objection. lThe springs are then in the way, and prevent a short turn being made. Should a spring break there is danger to life and limb, as there would, insneh event, be no connection on one side from axle to head-block. The fastenings and ittings are numerous and costly, generally requiring special machinery to make them, so that an ordinary blacksmith can hardly succeed in replacing a broken part. Side motion is a frequent and annoying objection.

I overcome all these difficulties by my invention, which consists in the employment of a peculiar spring, which extends ont under and beyond both axle and head-block, bending up and back forattachinent to the shackles, and in the combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

More particularly my invention is as follows: A designates the rear axle, B, the front together by a single braced perch, or by the` reaches a a, as shown, and stif'ened by the braces b b.' This gives all the stiffness, squareness, and strength obtainable. The body of .the vehicle rests, along each side, directly upon holsters, which snrmount springs D, of peculiar form. The main portion is elliptical, having two, three, or more leaves, z', as in Fig. 2. Toward each end the longest leaf takes a reverse curve, which sweeps in under the axle and head-block, beyond which it returns upon itself to form the C ends G, which terminate in the scrolls c for attachment. I have thus a combined double C and `elliptic spring. A double sweep is shown in Fi. 3.

Shackles a are bolted to the axle 'A so that their attaching-points are above the axle, preferably, and in the same manner shackles o are bolted to the head-blocks C. The springs are placed in position with their ends passing under the rear axle and head-block, projecting behind the former and beyond the latter. The scrolls c on the returning ends G are placed in their respective shackles, and the bolt-s passed through and nuts attached.

The result is that while I can obtain any degree of stiffness or elasticity to the springs to make them suitable for any desired use, I have a rigid running-gear, which will `always 4maintain its proper relations', since the strain of expansion and contraction caused by extra weight and jolting is all received in the springs themselves, and is not put upon the runninggear, for when the main portion of the spring Hatten out and expands the two C ends give way to the expansion, swinging on the shacklepins without puttin g any strain whatever on the latter, or on' the axle or head-block; consequently the wheels will always track. Only two springs and four shackles are necessary. This effects great economy in construction. Should a spring break I have the wheels still safely connected by a reach. The springs are under the body, and hence give plenty of room for a sharp turn. The springs passin g under axle and head-block permit the body to be hung conveniently low, giving the body more stability of motion and greater steadiness.

There is no annoying side motion, since the springs run straight forward and backward, permitting' no torsion nor wabbling.

The springs can be thrownI into most graceful and pleasing curves, thus enhancing the appearance of the vehicle to which they are applied.

I ain aware-that a spring of substantially the shape above shown has been applied to a three-spring carriage, located above and parallel with the rear axle, serving as a crossspring, in connection with two side elliptical springs; but the location, operation, and purpose of my springs are of an entirely different nature.

I do not lay claim to the shape of the spring; nor do I claim, broadly, a side spring having a C end, as I ain aware of such having been used in connection with a rigid side bar, the spring being a straight flat one with C end; but my spring is elliptical, is a side spring, hasno rigid side bar to kill the elasticity between fastenings, stands at right/V.

angles to the axles, and is continuous from axle to head-block.

I claim as my invention- 1. rIhe combination, with axle A and headblock O, having the shackles n o, of the double C-ended half-elliptic side springs D, passing out under axle and head-block, respectively, and, returning, fastened to said shackles, said springs D forming the immediate and only support for the vehicle-body, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the described double C-ended half-elliptic side springs D, shackles u o, axle A, head-block O, and reach or perch a, said springs D forming the immediate and only support for the vehicle-body, substantially as set forth. l

In testimony thatl claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of October, 1878.

ROBERT PORTER.

Witnesses:

A. F. DIMoND, H. D. FRAZIER. 

